Coin-controlled machine.



P. T. STANKARD.

OOIN CONTROLLED MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1913. 1 1 22,655. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VEN TOR.

25 PZSfan/rard P. T. STANKARD. GOINOONTROLLBD MACHINE. IAPPLIOATION FILED JULY 24, 1912.

1,122,655. Patented Dec. 29,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

VESSES: r [N VENTOR. 5 (QM RZSfaHA'a/"d m I W m ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHoTo'LITHa. WASHING/ON. D C.

warren sraa as agrnnr orrrcn PETER T. STANKARD, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CQIN-CONTR-OLLED MACHINE.

Application filed July 24, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER T. STANKARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coin-controlled machines and its object resides in the provision of a mechanism which after a coin has been deposited in a chute provided for that purpose will release one of a number of articles normally secured against removal, and which after the displaced article is restored in its former position, will upon the deposition of another coin of less value again secure the same and at the same time return the first deposited coin and retain the second coin as remuneration for the temporary use of the article.

While my machine may be employed for articles of a different character, it is particularly adapted for use in hotel and theater lobbies, stores and other public places to hold umbrellas which by means of the mechanism hereinabove briefly referred to may be rented for temporary use at a nominal price.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are simi larly designated, and in which,

Figure 1 represents an elevation of my improved apparatus, Fig. 2, a plan view of the same, Fig. 3, a section taken along the line 33, Fig. 2 drawn to an enlarged scale, Fig. 4, a section similar to Fig. 3, showing the operative parts of the mechanism in the positions they occupy after the first coin has been deposited, Fig. 5, a section taken along the line 55, Fig. 3, Fig. 6, an enlarged section taken along the line 66, Fig. 2, Fig. 7

' a section taken along the line 7-7, Fig. 6,

and Fig 8, an end view of the bearing and rotary barrel, looking in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 6. 7

My invention consists in its preferred form of a stand composed of a base 2, a central standard 3 and a circular casing 4 which is secured at the upper end of the latter and contains the coin-controlled mecha nisms for securingiand releasing the umbrellas which are designated by the numeral 5.

In the const uc on shown in the drawings Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914. Serial No. 786,984.

the stand is capable of holding eight umbrellas, and inasmuch as the mechanisms for securing and releasing the same, operate independently and are identical in construction, a detailed description of one of the said mechanisms will be sufficient to convey a thorough understanding of the construction and operation of the entire device.

In this connection I desire it understood that the form, construction and size of the stand are of little consequence in the operation of my invention and that the same may be varied at will to suit articles of a different character or size.

Each umbrella is provided with a laterally extending key 6 which is permanently secured to its handle by means of an integral collar 7 as is best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The cylindrical stem of the key is provided at its outer end with a peripheral groove 8 to receive the end of a tumbler of the lock hereinafter to be described, and it has at the same end a plurality of equidistant longitudinal bits 9 which are provided to impart a partial rotation to the barrel which forms part of the lock.

An angular coin chute 10 of narrow width has an orifice 12 in the upper surface of the easing into which the coins 13 are deposited to release the umbrella and it has at its opposite end an outlet 14 in the side of the casing through which the coins are discharged after the umbrella has been restored in its normal position, and a second coin of less value has been deposited in 'a second chute 15 which is disposed adjacent the first mentioned chute.

While my apparatus may obviously be adapted for the use of coins of any desired size or value, the proportions shown in the drawings are particularly designed for the deposition of a dollar in the first mentioned angular chute 10, and a quarter in the other chute 15 which has an orifice 16 for the reception of the coins in the top of the casing next to the orifice of the larger chute, and which at its opposite end communicates with a receptacle 17 in the casing which is common to all the mechanisms assembled therein and which may be opened by means of a normally locked door 18.

The lock in the casing into which the key onthe umbrella is in practice inserted, consists of a rotary barrel 19 which has at its inner. end a pair of cams 20 for the opera? tion of a tumbler 21, and, exteriorly, a pair of radially extending pins 22 which by engagement with a stop 23 on the casing, determine the extent of the rotary motion of the barrel. The barrel which is bored longitudinally for the reception of the key 6 has interiorly a ward 24 adapted to be engaged by one or another of the bits 9 on the key for rotation of the barrel through the instrumentality thereof. The barrel is rotatably mounted in a bearing 25 secured on the inside of the casing, in axial alinement with a key hole 26 in the outer wall of the same, and its circumferential surface is engaged by a spring 27 which prevents retrograde motion by entering one of a number of indentations in the said surface. For convenience in manufacturing the stop 23 engaged by the projections 22 on the barrel may be secured to the hearing, as shown in Fi 6.

1 1 tumbler 28 is fulcrumed at 29 and projects through a slot in the chute 10 partially within and partially outside the same.

' The outer extremity of the tumbler has a barb adapted to enter the peripheral groove 8 of the key 6, and the portion of the tumbler inside the chute is provided for moving it about its fulcrum to disengage the key, by the weight of a coin introduced into the chute through its orifice in the upper surface of the casing.

The tumbler 21 which as mentioned hereinabove is engaged by the cams on the end of the barrel, is of angular form; one of its arms has a lateral projection which engages the cam face of the barrel and its opposite arm extends normally outside the chute 15 but is capable of entering the same through a slot in its edge for the purpose of preventing the passage of a coin as will hereinafter be more fully described. The tumbler 21 is engaged by a spring 30 which serves to move it into the chute when disen aged by the cams 20 during rotation of the arrel.

Two normally interlocking latch-bars 31 and 82 are fulcrumed at 33 and 34 and project respectively into the chutes 10 and 15 at points below those at which the tumblers 28 and 21 extend into the same.

The keyhole 26 in the side of the casing through which the key is introduced into the barrel 19, is of smaller diameter than the bore of the latter and it has a plurality of notches placed out'of alinement with the ward on the barrel, and adapted for the passage of the hits at the end of the 'key as is shown in Fig. 7. This construction prevents access to the ward 24 by introducing an instrument other than the proper key into the hole, so that unauthorized or malicious persons cannot operate the lock to obtain the coin deposited in the chute 10. Having thus described the mechanical construction of one of the coin-controlled locks of the apparatus, its operation is as follows: The umbrella being placed in its proper position on the stand with its key inserted through the keyhole into the bore of the barrel is locked against removal by the position of the barb at the end of the gravity impelled tumbler 28 in the peripheral groove 8 of the key as is shown in Fig. 3. A person desiring to obtain an umbrella for temporary use inserts a coin (in this instance a dollar) into the orifice 12 of the chute 10 and by its weight upon the inner portion of the tumbler 28 lifts the barb out of the groove in the key and thus releases "the latter. The downward movement of the dollar in the chute is interrupted by its engagement with the inner end of the latch-bar 31 which is locked against movement about its fulcrum by the correlative bar 32 which projects into the other chute, and the dollar is thus maintained in its position in the chute and it holds at the same time the tumbler 28 in its raised position as shown in Fig. 4:. After the key has been released by the movement of the tumbler it may be withdrawn through the keyhole by a partial rotation which brings its bits in register with the notches in the hole. This partial rotation causes the cam 20 which engaged the end of the tumbler 21 to disengage the same thereby causing the latter to enter the chute 15 by the action of the spring 30 and to thus prevent the insertion of a coin into the said chute until the key has been again inserted in the bore of the barrel and the umbrella has in consequence been restored to its proper position on the stand. After the umbrella has been used, the person who rented the same replaces it by inserting the key into the proper key-hole and imparting a partial rotation to the barrel to restore the umbrella to its proper upright position. This partial rotation causes one of the cams at the end of the barrel to again engage the tumbler 21 which in consequence is withdrawn from the chute 15 against the action of the spring 30. The operator being desirous to obtain the coin he deposited in the machine as security for the article he borrowed now inserts the smaller coin (in this instance a quarter) in the chute 15, the "last deposited coin falling through the chute engages the inner end of the latch-bar 32 which in consequence unlocks the bar 31 to permit the larger coin which was held thereby in the chute 10, to continue its downward movement to the outlet 14. The continued movement of the larger coin releases the tumbler 28 which by the greater weight of its outer arm is restored to its normal position with its barb in the groove 8 of the key, and the smaller coin passing through the chute 15, falls into the receptacle 17 of the casing; Inasmuch as the inner portion of the latch-bar 32, is made proportionately shorter than that of the bar 31, it follows that the latter will be re leased before the smaller coin releases the bar 32 so that the two bars will automatically move into interlocking relation to each other, and all the parts are thus restored to their original position ready to be again operated by the insertion of a coin into the chute 10.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that an umbrella cannot be removed from the machine without the cleposit of a coin of sufficient value to secure its return; that after the umbrella has been removed, the deposited. coin cannot be obtained unless the umbrella is first restored to its proper position on the stand, and that after this requirement has been fulfilled, the coin originally deposited can be regained only after a second coin of suflicient value to pay for the rental of the umbrella has been deposited in the machine.

While I have shown and described my apparatus in the best form at present known to me I desire it understood that variations in the construction and arrangement of its operative parts may be resorted to within the spirit of my invention as expressed in the following claims.

Claims:

1. In coin-controlled apparatus, a key, a lock mechanism including a memberfor securing the same against removal, said member being capable of being moved to release the key, by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin, a contrivance for arresting the movement of the said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same, by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin different from the other, and means on the said apparatus for discharging the first-mentioned coin after it is released.

2. In coin-controlled apparatus, a key, a lock-mechanism including a member for securing the same against removal, and a second member capable of being moved to a determinate position by means of the key, the first-mentioned member being capable of being moved to release the key, by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin, a contrivance for arresting the movement of the said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same, by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin different from the other, means operated by the said movement of the said second member of the lockmechanism for preventing the downward movement of the last-mentioned coin until the said member has been returned to its original position, and means on the said apparatus for discharging the first-mentioned coin after it is released.

3. In a coin-controlled apparatus, a key, a lock-mechanism including a member for securing the key against removal from the apparatus, and a rotary member capable of being moved to a determinate position by means of the key, the first-mentioned member being capable of being moved to release the key, by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin, a contrivance for arresting the movement of the said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same, by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin difierent from the other, means operated by the said movement of the said second member of the lock-mechanism for preventing the downward movement of the last-mentioned coin until the said member has been re turned to its original position, and means on the said apparatus for discharging the firstmentioned coin after it is released.

4:- In coin-controlled apparatus, a structure having a slot for the insertion of a coin, in communication with a discharge opening, and a second slot for the insertion of a different coin, a key, a lock-mechanism including a member for securing the key against removal from the structure, and a second member capable of being moved to a determinate position by means of the key, said first-mentioned member being capable of being moved to release the key by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin inserted in the first-mentioned slot, a contrivance for arresting the movement of the said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same for its passage through said discharge-opening by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin. different from the other, inserted through the said second slot. and an appliance actuated by the said movement of the said second member of the lock-mechanism, for preventing the passage of a coin inserted through the said second slot, to the said contrivance.

5. In coin-controlled apparatus, a structure having a slot for the insertion of a coin, in communication with a discharge opening, and a second slot for the insertion of a dii" ferent coin, a key, a lock-mechanism including a member for securing the key against removal from the structure, said member being capable of being moved to release the key when subjected to the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin inserted in the first-mentioned slot, and a contrivance for arresting the movement of the said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same for its passage through the said discharge opening when subjected to the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin difi'erent from the other, inserted through the said second slot.

6. In coin-controlled apparatus, a structure having a slot for the insertion of a coin, in communication with a discharge opening, and a second slot for the insertion of a different coin, a lock-mechanism including a movable key-receiving member, a key constructed for insertion in said memher and for imparting a movement thereto, second member for locking said key against removal from the first'mentioned member, which is capable of being moved to release the same by the impellent action of a clownwardly moving coin inserted through the first-mentioned slot, an appliance for arresting the movement of said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the samei'or its passage through said discharge-opening, by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin difierent from the other, inserted through the said second slot, and means operated by movement of the said key-receiving memher, during removal of the key, for preventing the passage of the said second coin, through the second slot, to the said appliance.

7. ln coin-controlled apparatus, a structure having an opening for the insertion of a key, an open-ended chute, a receptacle, and a second, open-ended chute in communication with said receptacle, a key constructed for insertion through said opening, a tumbler for locking said hey against Wltlldrawal from said opening, which is capable of being moved to release the same, by the impellent action of a coin passing through the firstanentioned chute, and an appliance for preventing the passage of said coin through the said chute, after its said action,

comprising a member adapted to be engaged by said coin, and a second member normally locking the first mentioned member against movement by the action of said coin and capable of being moved to release the same, by the impellent action of a coin passing through the said second chute.

8. in coin-controlled apparatus, an open ended chute, a receptacle, a second chute in communication with said receptacle, a lock mechanism including a rotary key-receiving member, a key constructed for insertion in said member and capable of imparting a 1'0- tary movement thereto, a second member for locking said key against removal from Copies of this patent mav be obtained for the first-mentioned member, which is capable of being moved to release the same, by the impellent action of a coin passing through the first-mentioned chute, an appliance for preventing the passage of said coin through said chute after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same, by the impellent action of a coin passing through the second chute, and means actuated by rotation of the said rotary member, for preventing the passage of said second coin to said appliance.

9. In coin-controlled apparatus, a structure, locking-means on said structure for securing an article against removal there from, which is capable of being moved to release the same by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin, and an appliance for arresting the movement of said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin diiierent from the other, the said structure having means for discharging the firstmentioned coin after it is released, and means for guiding the second mentioned coin to operatively engage saidappliance.

10. In coin-controlled apparatus, a structure, locking means on said structure for securing an article against removal therefrom, which is capable of being moved to re lease the same by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin, an appliance for arresting the movement of said coin after its said action, which is capable of being moved to release the same by the impellent action of a downwardly moving coin different from the other, a device for preventing the passageof the last-mentioned coin to the said appliance, and means cooperative with said device for causing it to move to inoperative position by the action of placing said article in its proper position for being secured by the said locking means, the said structure having means for discharging the first-mentioned coin after it is released.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

PETER T. STANKARD. Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, L. RHOADES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

